Airplane kite



y 1932- w. E. IKERMAN 1,857,687

AIRPLANE KITE Filed Se pt. 9, 1929 e Sheets-Sheet 1 l6 INVENTO."

v ATTORNEY M y 10, 1932. w. 5. IKERMAN 1,857,687

AIRPLANE KITE Filed Sept. 9. 1.929 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 \NVENTOR ATTO R NEY ay 32 w. E. IKERMAN 1,857,687

AIRPLANE KITE I Filed Sept. 9, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 10, 1932.

W. E. IKERMAN AIRPLANE KI TE Filed Sept. 9, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY y 1932- w. E. IKERMAN 1,857,687

AIRPLANE KITE Filed Sept. 9, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 52 5/54 6'4 BY W jg ATTORNEY y 1932- w. E. IKERMAN 4 1,857,687

AIRPLANE KITE Filed Sept. 9. 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ATTOR NEY Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED TA-ras osFrcE;

WAXN E- KEaMAN; qr BUTTE, mewrwae sieaoa QF-F-QZFTX MEARL meager erra MQNTAIYA Marten mar Application filed Septerhlgerfi, 1929. 3 Serial Ne. 391254;;

This invention relates to airplane kites, or

captive airplanes, an object being to provide. a heavier than air device which, whenfheld that its position may be changed and the I kite maneuvered within the radius of its restraining cable.

vision of an airplane kite of novel construction which will eliminate darting and diving movements common to many kites and thus provide a kite which will maintain a steady position and beespeoially adapted for the. above andother purposes.

vision of an airplane kite in which the wings are vertically and horizontally ofiset and arranged to combine the features of-both the bi-plane and monoplane, the positions of the 30 wings being such as to provide a maximum amount of lifting power with a--minimum' wing spread.

Another object of the lnV611tlI11SthG procapacity and a maximum amount of stability.

Another object of the invention isthe pro vision of an airplane kite having emer- 46 ing may e ld-e s that the k te il cupy a minimum amount of space when not in use.

A still Another obj ect of the invention'is the pro Another object'of the invention is the proing and liftir-ig capacity.

vision of an airplane kite wing of novel con- 1 struction which will provide increased liftingen y on rol b ake -the la in e f;,. 15 hat. the kit may be mo asi y een r l ediin m A further object of the invention is further object of the invention is e provision of an amphibian kite havingad. justable pontoons so as to increase the useful;

of they kite. overland and water.v With'the above and other objeotsin view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction; to he hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in theap enderlclaim. i In the drawings 1 Figure 1 is a top plan view. of an airplane kite constructed in accordance with the "in.- vention. Y i

"Figure. 2 is a side view. of the. same; 7 Figure 3 is. a front view. Figure 4; is, a plan view of a modified form of the invention. 1 f 1 Figure 51 is a side. elevation of the subject matter of 1 i, ;.uz|:ev 4.

Figure 6.. is as planv view of still another form ofkite. I

ness and safety Figure 7 is a front View of the kite shown in Figure 6.

Figure Sfis a top. plan view-ofa modified form oftai'l structure. 1 Figure 9 is a rear elevation of the same. Figure 10 is a side elevation of an. amp-hihs ian kite. constructed; in accordance with the invention. a

Figure. 11 is a top View ofthe same. i Fig'urelQ is a sideelevation. of a modified form of kite having relatively largecarrys Figure 13 is a plan view of the in Figure 12. r r

Figure 14 is a front viewofthe same,

' Figure "15 isa plan view of a further modified formof kite in which. the wings are foldably mounted. .1

Figure 16' is a. front kite shown Figure 17 visfan edge View ofone of' the wlngs. I Z 3 Referring to the drawings in detail wherein' like characters of reference denote. eorrespondlng parts, the Invention as shown comprises a frame 10. This frame. includes longitudinally disposed members which are connectedbystruts 11 and guy wires 12 ,'the. construction of the frame being adapted 'to the particular form of the kite. and varies view of the. kite shown V slightly with the different forms of kite illustrated. The general idea of a supporting frame which carries a Wing structure and baskets or cars being similar in all of the forms of the invention.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures '1 and 2, the frame has extending laterally therefrom upon opposite sides, wings 13 and 14. These wings are longitudinallyspace'd and the foremost wings have their leading edges inclined rearwardly, while their leaving edges 16 are disposed at right angles with respect to the frame 10. The wings 13 as well as thewings 14 extend upwardly and outwardly and provide the dihedral type ofwing. By providing the inclined leading edge 15 and the right-angled leaving edge 16 for the Wings 13, a proper balance and increased stabilizing effectis obtained. Y i

' The wings 14 have their leading and leaving 5 edges parallel. I extend beyond the outer ends of the wings 13 and the outer ends of the leading edges of these wings 14 are curved rearwardly .as shown at16 to further increase stability.

The wings 13 are provided with ailerons 17, while the wings 14 are provided with ailerons 18. The ailerons 18 however are positioned beyond the outer ends of the wings 13 so as to be in unobstructedpath of air currents or wind forces and provide greater lifting capacity as well as stability in flight. .Tlie leading edges 15 of. the wings13 are curved as indicated at 19 and further act to increase the lifting and stabilizing effect of the kite. V

The tail or rear end of the kite is provided with outwardly extending horizontally disposed stabilizer planes 20 and theseplanes have hingedly secured thereto as indicated at 21, elevator'rudders 22, while positioned control cables may extend into the car 29 and this car maybe providedwith any ordinar or suitable controlling device.

By'construct-ing the frame in the manner stated and spacing the cars 27, 28 and 29 longitudinally of the frame, both lateral and upward air passages are provided between the cars which further acts to stabilize the kite. The kite may be provided with a suitable restraining cable 30 which is attachedto the The wings 14 however Lamas? frame by means of a bridle 31. The kite may also be provided with landing gear which includes a carriage 32 and skid 33.

'In Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the kite as shown includes front wings 34 and rear wings 35 and are also of the dihedral type. The front Wings 34 however in this form of the invention have leading and leaving edges parallel, while the rear wings have clined as shown at 40. The wings 38 may also be of the dihedral type of wing structure.

Instead of having the rear or tail stabilizers extend horizontally outward, these stabilizers may also extend outwardly and upward ly as shown at 41 in- Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings. In addition, the outer or side edges of the tail stabilizers 41 may be inclined outwardly'and rearwardly as shown at 42.

I-n Figures 10 to 16 of the drawings, the. frames of the kites are substantially the same as the frames of the kites previously described, in that the vertical andhorizontal, passages are provided.

In Figures 10 and'll however the kite shown is of the amphibian type so as to provide increased safety for the occupants by providing for landing the kite either on land or water. The kite shown in Figures 10 and 11 therefore is provided with 'pontoons 43 which are disposed below the cars and may be adjusted with respect thereto.

Also the kite shown in Figures 10 and 11 combines the features of both the monoplane and biplane in that wings 44 and 45 are provided one above the other, while a wing 46 is positioned at the rear of and on a plane intermediate the wings 44 and 45. The wings .are thus both vertically and horizontally spaced so that the rear wing 46 will receive air from the trailing edges of the forward wings 44 and 45, the latter being-spaced an appreciable distance.

The wings 44, 45 and 46 may be constructed as shown in Figure 17 of the drawings. This wing has alower' cambered or slightly curved leading portion at a and'is upwardly curved rearwardly from a to b so as to provide a maximum amount of lifting force, this curved portionterminating at c.

From this point, to the point indicated at d, the wing curves downwardly so as to guide or direct the air stream downwardly and rearwardly and along the upwardly curved por tion extending from (Z to e, the latter being the trailing or leaving edge of the wing. The

addition to the lifting power provided directs the air from the forward wings to the rear wings so that thelatter will have increased lifting capacity. The upper horizontal trailing edge of the wing acts as a counterbalance and will prevent the nose of the kite from tilting downward should the wind suddenly stop blowing.

Also by reference to Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings it will be seen that the leading edge of the upper wing 44 is an appreciable distance in advance of the leading edge of the lower wing 45.

In Figures 12, 13 and 14, the wing arrange ment is similar to that shown in Figures 10 and 11, except that the upper and lower wings 47 and 48 are arranged between the rear wing 49 and a forward wing 50. The wings 49 and 50 are arranged substantially in the same horizontal plane and on a plane between the wings 47 and 48, the former wings being arranged after' the manner of a monoplane, while the wings 47 and 48 are arranged similar to the wings of a biplane. The forms of the invention shown in Figures 10 to 14 thus provide a combination bi-plane and mono plane. v

Thekite shown in Figures 12, 18 and 14 is provided with main landing wheels 51 and with a forward or nose landing wheel '52 and a rearward or tail landing wheel 53. In addition, the wheels 50 are provided with suitable brakes 54 which are connected with the rock shaft 55. This shaft extends transversely of the landing gear and operates in bearings 56. The shaft 55 is connected with the brakes 54 as indicated at 57 while suitable connection is made from the rock shaft 55 to a foot pedal arranged within convenient reach of the occupants of the kite. i V

An engine 58, preferably of the motorcycle type, is mounted upon the lower wing 48 upon each side of thekite. 'Theseengines operate propellers 59. a

Ailerons may be provided upon one or more of the wings. For example, the wings 44 shown in Figures 10 and 11 of-the drawings may be providedwith ailerons'60, while the wings 47 and 50 shown in Figures 12 and 13 of the drawings may beprovided with ailerons 61 and 62 respectively. 7 1 The kite shown in Figures 15 and 16 is provided with spaced upper and lower wings 63and 64, while rearwardly of these wings is a wing 65. All of these wingsarehinged- 7 1y secured to the frame of the kite as shown at 66 so that the wings may be folded when the kite is not in use. stabilizers 67' of the kite are also hinged to the frame as shown at 68 so that these stabilizers may be likewise folded.

In. addition, the rear While the kites described are primarily intended to be used as captive kites, they are provided with engines and traction propel-,

lers as shown and described. These engines H and propellers however are primarily intendedfor use in an emergency, such as when the restraining cable breaks, or where it is necessary to make a landing at someremote point from the point at whic'h'the kite is being flown. This will be especially useful in war time observation if danger should suddenly arise as the occupants or operator could cut the restraining cable and fly to a safe landing.

The invention is susceptible ,of'various;

changes in its fornnproportions and minor details of construction and the right is hereinreserved to make such changes asproperly fall within the scope of the appended claim. r

Having described the claimed is: e a

A late comprising an elongated frame in-. cluding a plurality of connected longitudi invention what is nally disposed members, struts and guy wires connecting the members, longitudinal rein forcing members disposed above and connected to the frame, steering and elevating means at the rear end of the frame, front and rear pairs of wings secured to the frame and inclining upwardly and outwardly therefrom, a Y

the leading edge of'the front pairsof wings disposed on an incline extending outwardly and rearwardly of the frame and the-leaving edge of the front wings arranged at right angles to the frame, said rear wings having the leading and leaving edges disposed'parallel and at right angles to the frame, and landing means at the front and rear ends of the frame,- i

In testimony whereof IaffiX my signature. v

WAYNE E. IKERMAN. i 116 I 

